CJ #3 Gift them your presence

The greatest gift you can give is your presence. What do I mean by this?

How often do you find yourself chatting to your friend, your partner, your child with your phone in your hand?

I recently watched a video where speaker, Simon Sinek, talked about the detrimental effects of even just having your phone in your hand as we speak to someone.

Even if we’re not actively on our phones - the simple act of holding in it our hand as we speak has a negative effect.

Imagine it. We’re sitting together and you’re telling me about your day or what you did over the weekend and I have my phone in my hand. Do you feel like you are the most important thing to me right now? No, you don’t.

As he says in his video, I might be hearing the words that you say, but do you feel heard when my phone is in my hand and it’s clear my attention is not completely with you?

You can watch the full clip here -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tVw2xArV0k

This one hit me hard, as I make a big effort to not be on my phone around my just over 1-year-old son, Mac.

Yet it’s something that still happens from time to time, and certainly happens with other loved ones - my partner, my stepson, my friends, parents, brother, larger family.

“The idea is not that we hear the words that they say, but they feel heard.” - Simon Sinek

So how can we be more present? How can we connect more deeply to the people and immediate world around us rather than the “imaginary” world that we have access to at our fingertips?

For me the key is to practice being present. Whether that’s each time we have a cup of tea, or each time Mac and I are playing, or whenever my partner speaks to me - find an activity that happens regularly and practice being present.

And this is exactly what I teach in my 1-on-1 Meditation sessions.

Presence is the foundation of a meditation practice. The point of the practice is not to be the most calm, the most zen master, or the happiest person in the room. It’s simply to be present. Yes - the mind may wander, and on some days it may wander again and again and again - especially if you are at the start of your journey with meditation, but even as experienced practitioners - sometimes the mind is just busy. And in those times your practice is just to be aware of that and to bring your mind back to the present, back to noticing what is coming up for you. It doesn’t matter how many times we have to readjust and realign, refocus and remember that we are coming back to this moment. The point is that you have created this moment in time just for you to be just as you are.

This week, thoughts to ponder ~

𖤓 How can you be more present in your day-to-day?

𖤓  Are there any habitual actions or activities, that you can use as a trigger to be more present? To give your full undivided attention, and listen to understand, not listen to respond.

Next week I will have a space available for Private Coaching, either in Meditation, Breathwork, Yoga, Singing, Sound. This will be a fortnightly time slot for the right person. Reply to this email if you are interested and would like to be considered.

Yoga Hike Club will be on the 20th April this month, and we have a test hike this Saturday (6th April) in the evening.

May you have a present start to your week 🧡

With gratitude,

Patience x